Latest news with #Yum!Brands
Economist
5 days ago
- Business
- Economist
Why is AI so slow to spread? Economics can explain
Talk to executives and before long they will rhapsodise about all the wonderful ways in which their business is using artificial intelligence. Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase recently said that his bank has 450 use cases for the technology. 'AI will become the new operating system of restaurants,' according to Yum! Brands, which runs KFC and Taco Bell. AI will 'play an important role in improving the traveller experience', says the owner of In the first quarter of this year executives from 44% of S&P 500 companies discussed AI on earnings calls.
7 days ago
- Business
Taco Bell expands beverage menu with 6 new sips for summer
Taco Bell is leaning into liquids that go beyond Mountain Dew Baja Blast with the addition of new Refrescas to its beverage menu that the fast food chain hopes will quench every kind of craving. The Irvine, California-based quick service restaurant, owned by Yum! Brands, announced new permanent menu items last month in an attempt to make its drinks as iconic as its food offerings. The company said its goal is to reach $5 billion in beverage sales by 2030. "We're seeing today that people, especially younger consumers, are reaching for refreshing drinks as part of their lifestyle, whether it's for energy or a sweet treat throughout the day," Liz Matthews, Taco Bell's global chief food innovation officer, said in a statement. "So we're making big investments to become the ultimate beverage stop where our fans can expect to see the same bold, unexpected creativity in their cups as they do on their plates." Taco Bell launches Refrescas as new premium beverage option "Taco Bell's all-new Refrescas lineup features six drinks crafted to deliver a variety of flavors and functions matching any mood, meal, or moment: three thirst-quenching refreshers, two electrifying energy drinks, and a cooling Freeze," the company said in a press release. "The three Agua Refrescas join menus permanently after initially being tested in Southern California in 2024, with positive response proving fan cravings for premium beverages that pair perfectly with Taco Bell favorites." The newly launched six-drink lineup features the following options: Agua Refrescas Taco Bell's twist on the Mexican beverage agua fresca gets mixed with real freeze-dried fruit pieces and green tea to provide a subtle boost of caffeine -- 52 mg per beverage. The drinks are available in Strawberry Passionfruit, Dragonfruit Berry, and Mango Peach flavors and cost $3.99 for a 20-ounce size. Rockstar Energy Refrescas Fans can get a boost of caffeine in a Pineapple Lime or Tropical Punch Rockstar Energy Refresca, flavors the company said "were curated exclusively for Taco Bell." The drinks contain 200 mg of caffeine and cost $4.49 for a 20-ounce size. Refresca Freeze The Refresca Freeze is a frozen take on the Refresca lineup. It features freeze-dried fruit and transforms the Strawberry Lime flavor "for maximum cool down," the company said. It comes in two sizes, 16-ounce and 20-ounce, for $3.79 and $3.99, respectively. What to know about new Taco Bell Live Más Café locations Taco Bell also confirmed to "Good Morning America" the expansion of the brand's innovative beverage concept, Live Más Café, with 30 new locations set to open across Southern California and Texas by fall 2025. "Inspired by Gen Z's love for curated, customizable drinks, the [Live Más Café] concept offers over 30 signature beverages, from Churro Chillers and specialty coffees to Refrescas and Dirty Mountain Dew Baja Blast Dream Sodas," the company stated. "Live Más Café is reinventing the Taco Bell experience with expertly trained 'Bellristas' who handcraft the specialty drinks on the spot as part of the elevated in-restaurant atmosphere." "This is just the beginning of a multi-year beverage transformation, and Taco Bell is making one thing clear: bold refreshment is officially on the menu," it added.
Associated Press
08-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Filling Backpacks, Fueling Futures: Yum! Brands and Partners Pack 1,500 Meals for Louisville Students in Need
LinkedIn Last week, 70 employees at Yum! Brands, KFC US and Henny Penny teamed up with Blessings in a Backpack Louisville Chapter to fill 1,500 meals for local Louisville, Kentucky students — helping ensure kids have food for the weekend. More than 64,000 students in Louisville face food insecurity. Blessings in a Backpack provides food for school-aged children who might otherwise go hungry when school meals aren't available. This effort helps ensure kids have the nourishment they need to thrive — even when school is out. Huge thanks to everyone who rolled up their sleeves to make a difference! Visit 3BL Media to see more multimedia and stories from Yum! Brands
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Yum! Brands Appoints Chris Turner as Chief Executive Officer Effective October 1, 2025
LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE: YUM) today announced that its Board of Directors has unanimously elected Chris Turner, 50, as Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2025. Turner, who currently serves as Chief Financial & Franchise Officer for Yum! Brands, will succeed current Chief Executive Officer David Gibbs, who, in March 2025, informed the Board of Directors of his intention to retire in the next year after 37 years with the Company and a successful tenure as CEO. 'I'm deeply honored to step into the role of CEO at Yum! Brands and incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead this global company with such iconic brands,' said Turner. 'I want to sincerely thank David Gibbs for his exceptional leadership and partnership. I'm excited to build on all that we've accomplished together alongside our talented teams and in partnership with our franchisees around the world, as we innovate, grow our brands and continue delivering exceptional experiences for our consumers.' Turner has served as Yum! Brands' Chief Financial Officer since 2019 and expanded his role to include Chief Franchise Officer in 2024, with responsibilities for finance, corporate strategy, supply chain, franchise standards and support. In recent years, he has been instrumental in driving bold actions that leverage Yum!'s scale, such as accelerating the Company's digital and technology transformation through initiatives like the establishment of Byte by Yum!, an AI-driven restaurant technology platform; launching a centralized, global Supply Chain Center of Excellence; and the creation of Saucy by KFC, a bold new restaurant concept. He has worked closely with Gibbs and the entire Yum! Brands leadership team to drive growth through unit development, deliver strong shareholder returns and foster a people-first culture of collaboration. 'It has been the privilege of a lifetime to lead Yum! Brands and work with such passionate, talented people across our global system throughout my almost 37 years with the Company,' said Gibbs. 'I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together and am confident that the best is yet to come. During my time partnering with Chris, he's demonstrated deep knowledge of our business, strong values and a clear commitment to our growth. I can't think of a better person to guide Yum! into its next chapter, and I look forward to supporting a smooth and successful transition.' Gibbs has served as Yum! Brands' CEO since January 2020. As CEO, Gibbs was instrumental in architecting and leading the Company's digital transformation and tripled the pace of Yum! Brands' annual net new unit development, leading to nearly 61,000 restaurant units worldwide. Gibbs also successfully navigated the Company through the COVID-19 pandemic and an increasingly complex operating environment, making Yum! a top performer in the restaurant industry. During Gibbs' tenure, digital sales surpassed $30 billion in 2024, with over 50% of sales through digital channels. Gibbs remains CEO until September 30, 2025, and will serve as an adviser to the Company until the end of 2026 to ensure a seamless transition. 'On behalf of the Board, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to David Gibbs for his outstanding visionary leadership, and the lasting impact he's made on Yum! Brands,' said Brian Cornell, Non-Executive Chairman of the Yum! Brands Board of Directors. 'David led the Company during unprecedented times all while strengthening, transforming and growing the business, with Chris as a key partner. During his tenure, Yum! delivered strong performance and advanced its growth strategy that has helped attract and retain the best talent in the industry. We are thrilled to appoint Chris as the next CEO — a proven leader with a deep understanding of the business, strategic expertise, financial acumen and unique perspectives that will help accelerate our growth. The Board is confident that Chris is the right leader to take Yum! Brands forward and accelerate the Company's momentum.' As Yum! Brands CEO, Turner will focus on executing Yum!'s mission of growing the most loved, trusted and connected restaurant brands globally. He will be responsible for driving the Company's Good Growth strategy, which includes ongoing digital initiatives, scaling bold innovation to power the Company's iconic brands and delivering long-term results. Turner's career has spanned leadership roles for major global brands like PepsiCo and its sub-brands. Prior to joining Yum! Brands, Turner led PepsiCo's retail and e-commerce business with Walmart in the U.S. and more than 25 countries, and across PepsiCo's brands in the beverage, snack and nutrition categories. He also spent more than 13 years with McKinsey & Co., where he served as Partner in the firm's Dallas office and led the Service Operations practice in North America, the Restaurant Service Line, the Retail Operations team and recruiting for all Southern U.S offices. About Yum! Brands Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of nearly 61,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories under the company's concepts – KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill. The Company's KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands are global leaders of the chicken, Mexican-inspired food and pizza categories, respectively. Habit Burger & Grill is a fast casual restaurant concept specializing in made-to-order chargrilled burgers, sandwiches and more. In 2024, Yum! was named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America, Newsweek's list of America's Most Responsible Companies, USA Today's America's Climate Leaders and 3BL's list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens. In 2025, the Company was recognized among TIME magazine's list of Best Companies for Future Leaders. In addition, KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut led Entrepreneur's Top Global Franchises 2024 list and were ranked in the first 25 of Entrepreneur's 2025 Franchise 500, with Taco Bell securing the No. 1 spot in North America for the fifth consecutive year.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Redburn upgrades Yum! Brands to Buy on international footprint
Redburn Atlantic upgraded Yum! Brands (YUM) to Buy from Neutral with a price target of $177, up from $146. The firm says Yum 'presents one of the most compelling setups' in its coverage. With an international footprint that continues to scale and Taco Bell delivering 'outsized' profit and innovation, Yum 'offers both defensive resilience and offensive optionality,' the analyst tells investors in a research note. Redburn believes the company's digital acceleration, diversified formats and 'strong' master franchise system further strengthen its growth algorithm. Yum's valuation looks attractive relative to its fundamentals, the firm contends. Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See the top stocks recommended by analysts >> Read More on YUM: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Yum! Brands upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Redburn Atlantic Yum! Brands sues IRS in tax court over $4B tax bill, Bloomberg says Trump says Fed 'must now' lower rates after ADP payrolls report: Morning Buzz Apple downgraded, Snowflake upgraded: Wall Street's top analyst calls Yum! Brands upgraded to Buy from Neutral at Goldman Sachs Sign in to access your portfolio
